The COLD Week

The "Cold Week" in December 1983 lives in my memory.
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/12/26/Freezing-temperatures-chill-South-citrus-crops-threatened/3097441262800/
Here in Dale, we spent a week below freezing.  We were ill equipped.  Early in the episode, the exposed grey water drain pipe in the yard froze, preventing sinks from draining.  Then, the water supply plumbing under the house froze.  We spent days with sinks that wouldn't drain and no water from fawcets.  When we manually filled the tank, the toliet continued to flush.  The big new tank (earthern "stock" pond) froze; the ice seemed thick enough to walk on.  First, I tied a rope around Jean's waist and sent her across, maybe 50'.  Then, I tied the rope around my waist.  Though I doubt that Jean could have pulled me out; maybe she could have tied her end and I could have pulled myself out.  Then, we both walked around on the ice covered water.

After the event, we found all figs had been frozen to the ground; many did not survive.  The weakened survivors did not thrive; it took 8-10 years before we again had healthy large fig bushes.  Many peach trees had their trunks killed on the north side; some did not survive.  The damaged ones were deformed for life.  Both the fig and peach damage can be attributed to lack of acclimation; the freeze came before the plants were fully domant.

I believe that was the freeze that killed most citrus in The Valley which percipitated the move to Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit which today dominates the market.

We were heating the house with a wood burning stove (as we have been doing for ~40 years now).  The house is on piers and the perimeter was not well sealed.  I believe the event stimulated us to put in some storm windows and install a better stove as well as improve the under pinning.  I know it stimulated me to install electric heating tape and insulation on the under house plumbing.  That heating tape is still there but has never been turned on except to test.

I took the trouble to look up the low and high temperature records for Austin; AFAIK, closer records are not available.  Dale was likely a little colder than Austin.

Saturday 12/17/1983           36-45
Sunday 12/18/1983             23-41
Monday 12/19/1983            21-30
Tuesday 12/20/1983            26-36
Wednesday 12/21/1983       23-36
Thursday 12/22/1983          12-26
Friday 12/23/1983               16-30
Saturday 12/24/1983           12-23
Sunday 12/25/1983             10-25
Monday 12/26/1983            14-28
Tuesday 12/27/1983            27-57
Wednesday 12/28/1983       24-39
Thursday 12/29/1983          17-33
Friday 12/30/1983               17-37
Saturday 12/31/1983           19-51
Sunday 1/1/1984                 45-60

I count 14 consequetive overnight freezes, about five days below freezing, about nine days without temperatures significantly above freezing.